Battle of Piacenza (1796)

The Battle of Piacenza (late July 1796) was a battle of the Italian Campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars that occurred in late July 1796 when the 1,664-strong army of French general Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the 608-strong Austrian army of general Johann Beaulieu. The Austrians attacked the French center, failing to engage the two flanks of the French army; the French were able to bring both of their flanks to the center to crush the Austrians as their assaults floundered. The Austrian army was annihilated in the battle, suffering 585 losses, 96% of their army, and the French eliminated the Austrian menace in Lombardy. Piacenza was one of Napoleon's finest victories during the Italian Campaign, as it permitted him to continue his advance to Parma.